Matthew Moir heads a quartet of South Africa’s top longboard surfers who will compete against the world’s best riders of traditional nine foot plus surfboards in the GoPro World Longboard Surfing Championships presented by Wanning that gets underway at Riyue Bay on Hainan Island in China tomorrow (Friday).

The event will crown the 2014 ASP Men’s and Women’s Longboard Champions and runs from 5 to 12 December featuring 36 surfers from a total of 12 countries in each event. There is a total of US $100 000 in prize-money on offer.

Moir, a former two-time ISA World Champion who has also won the Rabbit Kekai Classic in Costa Rica and eight South African Open Men’s titles, will revel in the long left breaking waves at Riyue Bay which are similar to his favourite home break of Elands Bay on the West Coast of South Africa.

The 37 year-old Capetonian is looking forward to meeting up with friends and former opponents in China after competed extensively on the ASP World Longboard Tour in the mid 2000’s, regularly placing in the top 10 at events. He suffering a stroke in 2009 and has cut back on his international travel since then.

Moir will be joined in the Men’s event by Grant Beck (Cape St Francis) who will be making his debut in the World Title event after reaching the finals of the SA Longboard Championships earlier this year.

The ASP Africa representatives in the Women’s event are reigning SA champion Hannah Bing from Cape Town and Margreet Wibbelink, the 2014 SA Women’s runner-up, from Jeffreys Bay. It will be Bing’s first World Championship event while Wibbelink competed in China last year when she reached Round 2 before being eliminated.

This year will see the fourth edition of the ASP World Longboard Championships on Hainan Island, and the event has been confirmed for the next three years. The defending champions are Piccolo Clemente (PER) in the Men and two-time winner Kelia Moniz (HAW) who has reached the final in the Women’s event for the past three years, all of them against Chelsea Williams (AUS).

The GoPro World Longboard Championships China hosted by Wanning will run from Dec 5 to 12. News, live scores, results, images and video highlights available via http://bit.ly/1I3Ntlc

Ribeiro, who became the first Portuguese surfer to claim an ASP World Junior Title, built momentum through the early rounds and put on his best performance in the Final to outpoint Italo Ferreira (BRA) with an incredible 18.63 total. The young Portuguese up-and-comer and recently crowned ASP European Junior Champion earlier defeated other event standouts Joshua Moniz (HAW) and Deivid Silva (BRA) on his way to claim the event win.

“I have no words to describe this moment, I just want to thank everyone who’s been supporting me,” Ribeiro said. “It’s been a long week, especially today when I surfed four times. I think the final was actually the heat I was less pressured, I just wanted to do good and I knew I had to post something big cause Italo is such a great surfer.”

Runner-up today in Portugal, Ferreira put up a good fight but couldn’t match Ribeiro’s rhythm in the final and was eventually put in a combination situation he wouldn’t recover from. Equal third were Tomas Fernandes (PRT) and Deivid Silva (BRA).

The top four receive a significant boost to their fledgling pro surfing careers by earning preferential seeding into all the ASP Qualification Series (QS) events during 2015.

Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay) and Slade Prestwich (Durban), the last two members of the ASP Africa squad at the event, were both eliminated in high-scoring match-ups on Tuesday. The pair, and Benji Brand (Kommetjie) who was representing ASP Hawaii, finished in equal 17th place overall in the annual showcase of the world’s best surfers aged 20-and-under.

Mahina Maeda concluded a very successful Portuguese campaign with the ASP World Junior Title today, consistently posting great scores to advance in first in all her matchups including the Final where she defeated Guadeloupe’s Tessa Thyssen, 17, the winner of the ASP European Junior series this season.

“I can’t believe it, I’m so stoked and beyond,” Maeda said. “Watching Ella (Williams) win last year, it gave me some confidence and the urge to win. I felt like I had the potential, but came here and surfed it heat by heat. Having everybody out there supporting me was just amazing.”

At only 16 years-old, Maeda stamped her authority on the Junior talent pool and will look to take her act to the next level against the world’s best on the ASP QS tour next season.

Highlights from the Allianz ASP World Junior Championships including full results, images, heat analyser and more go to www.aspworldtour.com

Slade Prestwich (Durban) in action during his R2 heat victory at the Allianz ASP World Junior Championships in Portugal on Monday Image: ASP / Poullenot

Dylan Lightfoot posted the first success by a member of the ASP Africa squad competing in the Allianz ASP World Junior Championships when he won the final heat of Round 1 on Monday and advanced directly to Round 3 at Ribeira d’Ilhas in Portugal.

The standalone event that crowns the 2014 ASP World Junior Champions and offers invaluable access into the ASP Prime events during 2015 to the top four men and two women, is contested by squads of competitors aged 20-and-younger selected by the seven ASP Regional offices.

Lightfoot, who likened the waves for the event to those at the Point in his hometown of Jeffreys Bay, was joined in Round 3 by ASP Africa teammate Slade Prestwich after the Durbanite outpointed Juninho Urcia (PER) in their elimination Round 2 encounter.

A third South African reached the last 32 in Portugal when Kommetjie’s Benji Brand, who isrepresenting ASP Hawaii in the event, delivered a high quality Round 1 performance to claim victory and skip the cutthroat Round 2 clashes that saw the demise of several of his compatriots.

Diran Zakarian (Melkbosstrand), Jordy Maree (Kalk Bay) and the Jeffreys Bay pair of Matthew McGillivray and Joshe Faulkner all faltered in their opening duels on Sunday and were then ousted from the event in their respective Round 2 man-on-man heats yesterday.

The event got underway in ideal one metre waves on Saturday with the women’s event where the ASP Africa representatives, sisters Emma and Gina Smith from Jeffreys Bay, struggled to impress the judges. The girls will gain plenty of experience from mingling and competing with their peers from around the globe despite ending their respective Round 1 heats in combination situations and needing substantial scores to advance from their Round 2 heats.

Lightfoot, the 16th seed in Portugal and No. 132 on the ASP Qualification Series rankings, faces a tough battle against ASP North America top seed Parker Coffin (USA) in Round 3 with the winner progressing to the last 16 when competition recommences.

Prestwich’s task will be equally difficult as he takes on Joshua Moniz (HAW), the top point scorer in Round 1, while Brand will meet Italian phenom Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA).

The Allianz ASP World Junior Championships runs from October 25 – November 2, 2014 in playa de Ribeira d’Ilhas, Ericeira, Portugal. For live webcasts, results, photos, video highlights and press releases, go to aspworldtour.com.

The ASP and Accelerate Sports will be working to improve current events in Africa and adding more Tour destinations on the continent Image: ASP / Cestari

The Association of Surfing Professionals (“ASP”) is pleased to announce that it has appointed Accelerate Sport (Pty) Ltd as its commercial sales agents for South Africa and the rest of the African continent.

ASP currently has three events in South Africa and is looking to add further events, not only in South Africa but at key destinations on the Continent too. The current South African events are:

Mark Noonan, Chief Commercial Officer for ASP, said “The ASP showcases the world’s best surfers on the best waves in some of the most desirable locations on the planet. We are pleased to be working with Accelerate Sport and believe they are the ideal partner to represent ASP Africa and its alluring lifestyle to the corporate community in these very important markets.”

Managing Director of Accelerate Sport, Gary Grant said “We are delighted to be representing the ASP on the Continent, they are a highly professional organisation and we are thrilled to be a part of where they are taking the sport. This appointment not only adds to our business diversity and Africa growth strategy but also further entrenches our association with surfing as current commercial partners of Surfing South Africa. Surfing events are now lifestyle occasions attracting a cross section of people and activities, offering brands and host destinations greater personal reach and experiential marketing capabilities”.

“Having Accelerate Sport on board as ASP Africa’s first commercial rights agent is a major leap forward for our region,” says ASP Africa Operations Manager, Colin Fitch. “It marks an historical point in the development of this region on the ASP World Tour and will ensure that we can strengthen our existing events while working hard to bring new events to our members. Africa is blessed with some of the world’s best surf breaks and many potential future surfing stars so we look forward to growing the sport on the continent and to working hand-in-hand with Surfing South Africa on projects of common interest.”

About the ASP
The Association of Surfing Professionals (“ASP”) is the world surf league. The foremost authority of the sport since 1976, the ASP sanctions and operates the following tours: the World Junior Tour, World Longboard Tour, the Qualifying Series (consisting of ASP Prime and ASP Star events) and the crown jewel of the sport, the Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour which determines the sport’s undisputed world champions. The organization is headquartered in Santa Monica, California with Commercial Offices in New York. The offices are supported by regional centres in Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America and South America. In 2015, the ASP will officially be renamed the “World Surf League (WSL)”.

Dylan Lightfoot carves a powerful cutback at Outer Pool at Mossel Bay on his way to victory in the first stop on the Billabong Junior Series on Sunday Photo: Dylan Lightfoot Facebook

Dylan Lightfoot and Emma Smith clinched their respective men and women’s Pro Junior titles at the first stop on the Billabong Junior Series presented by BOS which was completed in consistent one to1.5 metre waves in Mossel Bay on Sunday.

The victories see the pair take an early lead in the rankings to select the three men and one woman who will represent ASP Africa at the 2014 ASP World Junior Surfing Championships scheduled for the end of October.

Lightfoot, 19, from Jeffreys Bay, took the momentum from his top 16 finish in an ASP QS event in Argentina last weekend into this event by convincingly winning his opening heat. The third seed then placed second to Cape Town’s Jordy Maree in Round 2 before getting revenge by defeating Maree in their Man-on-man semi-final encounter.

In the final Lightfoot used a patient strategy, picking off the best lined up waves across the Outer Pool point, to defeat top seed Diran Zakarian (Melkbosstrand) whose tactics of catching plenty of waves and going for big manoeuvres saw him relegated to the runner-up berth.

“The waves were a lot harder than what they looked. There was a lot of chop on them, and the big ones were no good,” said Lightfoot. “I was looking for the middle waves, the ones that had more potential across the inside. I’m just so stoked with my first win of the year and am looking forward to the upcoming contest season. This has been an amazing event, and the waves have been so much fun throughout.”

Lightfoot pocketed R8 000 and 750 rankings points for the victory along with the Nixon WTA (Winner Takes All) Award of a Nixon Supertide watch for the highest heat score of the event, 16.5 out of a possible 20 points in his semi-final win.

Zakarian, who won every heat he contested up to the final, collected R4 000 and 563 points for placing second and also picked up the VonZipper Brainblast-Off award for completing a big backhand air reverse in the VZ Airshow.

Emma Smith (Jeffreys Bay) justified her top seeding in the women’s 20-and-under division, winning her opening encounter, placing second to Chanelle Botha (Warner Beach) in the semis and then clinching the title in a low scoring final. Smith took home R4 000 and earned 750 points which puts her in pole position for a second consecutive appearance at the ASP World Junior Championships in October.

See more details, including video footage of each day’s action, at http://www.aspworldtour.com/events/2014/mjun/1029/billabong-junior-series-presented-by-bos

Slade Prestwich (Durban) hits the lip on his way to the quarterfinals of the HD Women’s World Junior Championships in Brazil yesterday Credit: ASP / Smorigo

South Africa’s Bianca Buitendag and Slade Prestwich have advanced to their respective women’s and men’s quarter-finals in the HD World Junior Championships presented by Devassa, which is likely to crown the 2013 ASP World Junior Champions at Joaquina Beach in Florianopolis, Brazil today (Saturday).

Buitendag, ranked No. 8 on the ASP Women’s World Championship Tour (WCT), is the top seed for the women’s title and progressed to the last eight in the event by defeating South American Lucia Cosoleto (ARG) on Thursday. The 19 year-old from George faces Chelsea Tuach (Barbados) in the quarters when the contest resumes.

Prestwich, 18, took two solid heat victories on Friday, outpointing Hawaiian Keanu Asing (HAW), 20, and American Cam Richards (USA), 18, to secure his quarter-final berth and feels comfortable in the Joaquina Beach conditions similar to his local break in Durban.

“I was watching conditions before and saw the lefts were still going off the same bank off of the rock,” Prestwich said. “I thought I’d get my score there and then get over to the right, that’s where you can start doing the airs. I can’t wait til the wind starts hitting the rights better for air sections. Durban is almost exactly the same as this. I don’t think where I surf at home is any different.”

Prestwich will be up against local favourite and WCT standout Gabriel Medina (BRA), 18, in the quarters.

Event organizers will reconvene this morning at 7:30am local time for a possible 8am start and expect to crown both Men’s and Women’s champions by day’s end.

Watch the HD World Junior Championships presented by Devassa LIVE via http://www.hd-wjc.com/ starting at around 1pm SA time daily.

About ASP: The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the recognized world governing body of professional surfing and has been crowning surfing’s undisputed World Champions since 1976. The ASP sanctions and crowns World Champions for the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, ASP World Junior Tour, ASP World Longboard and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts and other media platforms. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Japan, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

Bianca Buitendag shows the form that has seen her clinch the top seeding in the HD Women’s World Junior Championships in Brazil this week Credit: ASP Europe / Poullenot

Bianca Buitendag, who finished her maiden season on the ASP Women’s World Championship Tour ranked No 8 and claimed the 2013 Rookie of the Year title, heads the ASP Africa challenge at the HD World Junior Championships presented by Devassa at Joaquina Beach in Florianopolis, Brazil this week.

The event crowns the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Junior Champions for Men and Women aged 20-and-under and has witnessed the emergence of some of surfing’s greatest champions including reigning ASP World Champion Joel Parkinson (AUS), 32, the late Andy Irons (HAW), Adriano de Souza (BRA), 26, South Africa’s Jordy Smith, 25, and Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Laura Enever (AUS) and Pauline Ado (FRA).

Buitendag produced an incredible rookie year at the highest level of the sport, reaching one semi-final and three quarter-finals along with two 9th place finishes and only two first round exits in the eight events. She also won the Women’s Pro Junior title at the US Open of Surfing and goes into the HD World Junior Champs as the women’s No 1 seed.

“Winning the World Juniors would mean I had the perfect season,” Buitendag said. “I have been to two World Junior Champs and have come second twice. If I have an opportunity, I am going to make the most of it.”

Buitendag has gained priceless experience during her season among the ASP Top 17 and is well prepared for a run at the ASP World Junior Title.

“A lot has changed since I won the event in Narrabeen (2011),” Buitendag said. “At that point in my life I was in the process of deciding what I wanted to do after school. So after that event, a lot of doors have opened for me and the question was answered of what I wanted to do. Now I am here again two years later and I would never have imagined making it this far.”

The 19 year-old from George in the Southern Cape will be joined in the 18-women field by Emma Smith (Jeffreys Bay) who gets her opportunity after original selection Sarah Baum withdrew from the event. With no other 20-and-under girls in the ASP rankings, ASP Africa offered the second spot to Surfing South Africa who nominated Smith as their representative.

The ASP Africa men’s squad is headed by Diran Zakarian (Melkbosstrand), winner of the ASP rated Quiksilver Pro Junior in Durban in May. He will be joined by Slade Prestwich (Durban), winner of the Volcom VQS World Finals in Fiji in June, and Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay) who has posted a string of impressive results while competing in ASP Prime and Star rated events this year.

Also included are David van Zyl (Glenashley), Michael February (Kommetjie) and Steven Sawyer (Jeffreys Bay) who earned their invitations to the ASP World Junior Championships as the top local juniors on the ASP World Rankings who had not already qualified.

The 48-man field is headed by Ramzi Boukhiam (Morocco) with Joao Abreu and fellow Brazilian and ASP WCT standout Gabriel Medina the second and third seeds. At No 11 Lightfoot is the highest seeded Saffa followed by Van Zyl (13), February (14), Sawyer (28), Prestwich (33) and Zakarian (45).

The Women’s HD World Junior Championships presented by Devassa holds a waiting period from October 27 through November 3, while the men’s waiting period runs from October 29 through November 5. The start of the event has been plagued by stormy weather and action is expected to get underway tomorrow (Tuesday).

Watch the HD World Junior Championships presented by Devassa LIVE via http://www.hd-wjc.com/ starting at around 12 noon SA time daily.

About ASP: The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the recognized world governing body of professional surfing and has been crowning surfing’s undisputed World Champions since 1976. The ASP sanctions and crowns World Champions for the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, ASP World Junior Tour, ASP World Longboard and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts and other media platforms. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Japan, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

Bianca Buitendag shows the form that makes her one of the top contenders for the women’s title at the Floripa/SC ASP World Junior Championships in Brazil in October Credit: ASP/Kirstin

ASP Africa has announced a powerful squad of 20-and-under surfers to represent the region at the Floripa/SC ASP World Junior Championships to be held at Joaquina Beach in Santa Catarina, Brazil, from October 27 to 5 November.

Comprising five men and two women, the South Africans will take on their peers from the other six ASP regions – North and South America, Europe, Australasia, Hawaii and Japan – plus selected wildcards, in determining the 15th annual ASP World Junior Surfing Champions.

The men’s squad is headed by Diran Zakarian (Melkbosstrand), winner of the ASP rated Quiksilver Pro Junior in Durban in May and the only member of the squad who has not previously competed in the ASP World Junior champs. He will be joined by Slade Prestwich (Durban), winner of the Volcom VQS World Finals in Fiji in June, and Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay) who has posted a string of impressive results while competing in ASP Prime and Star rated events this year.

Also included are David van Zyl (Glenashley) and Michael February (Kommetjie) who earned their invitations to the world championships as the top two local juniors on the ASP World Rankings who had not already qualified.

The women in the squad are experienced international campaigners Bianca Buitendag (George) and Sarah Baum (Athlone Park). Buitendag is currently No. 8 on the ASP Women’s World Championship (WCT) Rankings and won the ASP World Junior event in Sydney, Australia, in 2011 while Baum ended the 2013 season ranked No. 18 on the ASP Women’s World Rankings.

The annual ASP World Junior Championships is considered a major stepping stone to a successful professional surfing career with previous winners of the event including Andy Irons (HAW), Joel Parkinson (AUS), Adriano de Souza (BRA), Jordy Smith (ZAF), Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Pauline Ado (FRA)and Laura Enever (AUS), amongst others.

“The ASP World Junior Championships have an incredible heritage as well as the event being a critical element of the ASP career pathway and the development of our future talent,” Kieren Perrow, ASP Commissioner, said. “We’re very pleased that Brazil is coming on board for 2013 with the Floripa/SC ASP World Junior Championships and I’m really looking forward to seeing who the next up-and-comers are.”

The women’s event at the Floripa/SC ASP World Junior Championships will take place from October 27 through November 3 with the men’s event scheduled for October 29 through November 5.

About ASP: The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the recognized world governing body of professional surfing and has been crowning surfing’s undisputed World Champions since 1976. The ASP sanctions and crowns World Champions for the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, ASP World Junior Tour, ASP World Longboard and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts and other media platforms. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Japan, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

Stop No. 3 of 8 on the ASP Prime Series culminated with the most anticipated match-up of this year’s competition – event standouts, Smith and Wilson, living up to expectation with inspired performances in front of a capacity crowd.

“I’m really happy to get the win!” Wilson said of his 18.93 to 16.70 victory over Smith. “It’s my third time in Durban and I’ve gotten a good result each time. I really enjoy spending time here, it’s a great place with friendly people where I feel warm and comfortable. It definitely helps with my results.”

While Smith assumed an early lead to put Wilson in a combination situation (needing a combination of two scores) with his 7.67 and 8.83 (out of ten) scores, it was Wilson’s high-risk approach that was rewarded.

Knowing he needed something extra-ordinary to take the win, Wilson put everything on the line, completing an extremely critical Alley Oop aerial maneuver to score the first perfect 10 of this year’s competition.

Following up with a 8.93 slob grab reverse aerial maneuver, Wilson cemented his win over the local favourite and was chaired up the beach as the deserved 2013 Mr Price Pro Ballito Champion.

“Jordy put the pressure on me at the start but there were plenty of opportunities and I just had to flip the heat and put some scores on the board,” Wilson said. “That was the first time I’ve landed that air in a contest and I had to do something because I had my back against the wall. I’m stoked I could pull it off and come away with the win.”

Wilson is the second Australian to win the event since Chris Davidson (AUS) in 2008 and has pocketed R407 500 (US$40 000), rocketing to World No. 1 on the ASP World Rankings.

Smith had a dream run through to the final with flawless performances and perfect scores as he defeated Aritz Aranburu (EUK) in the Quarterfinals and Stu Kennedy (AUS) in the semi finals.

Unfortunately for Smith it was not the dream finish he’d hoped for, nonetheless pocketing R207 500 (US$20 000) and assuming the World No. 2 position.

“It was an honour to surf in the final against Julian, I’m just sorry I didn’t win it,” Smith said. “Julian stuck that air and it was amazing. I went on a trip to Reunion with him and he tried it a million times and didn’t make it and then he goes into the final and sticks it first time!”

The Australian contingent proved the most dominant on the final day of competition, with Stu Kennedy and Mitch Crews reaching the semi finals and placing equal third respectively.

Crews brought his big match temperament to an all-important semi final clash against Wilson. Producing a full repertoire of maneuvers, Crews was unfortunate not to find the near perfect score needed to beat the polished and more experienced Wilson.

Crews advanced from World No. 39 to World No. 27.

“I’m really happy to get all the way to the Semis and to surf against Julian,” Crews said. “Jordy and Julian have been standouts all event and there’s not much you can do when they’ve got you. This is a big result for me and I hope to continue my run and get a bunch more results to make the tour next year.”

Kennedy suffered a case of nerves against Smith in their semifinal match up. Feeling the pressure against the local favourite, Kennedy went for big turns but was uncharacteristically not able to stick them. The Australian was defeated in a combination situation.

Kennedy rockets from World No. 53 to 31 and will be looking to climb the ladder in the hope of qualifying for the WCT in 2014.

The Mr Price Pro Ballito enjoyed six days of action packed world-class surfing as Willard’s Beach delivered great waves and capacity crowds.

The action continues tonight with the Free Music Concerts on the Beach at Salt Rock and more exciting Festival activities at the Mr Price Pro Ballito Beach Festival tomorrow.

Beyrick de Vries (Umhlanga), 20, in action at the Los Cabos Open of Surfing where he placed second and catapulted up to No. 41 on the ASP World Rankings Photo: ASP / Shadley

South African Beyrick de Vries posted the best result of his professional surfing career when he finished second in the US $155 000, 6-Star Los Cabos Open of Surf in Mexico on Saturday.

The 20 year-old from Umhlanga, who has just returned to competition after a knee injury and was seeded 39th in the event, overcame a number of the top ranked surfers on his way to the final where he finished runner-up to Dillon Perillo (USA) in the clean one metre surf at the Zippers surf break.

“I came into this contest and was happy to make it from my Round of 96 to 48 because I’m just trying to make it to the midyear cut-off so I can be in the Primes for the second half of the year,” De Vries said.

“I’ve just come off of a knee injury and this is the first event where I’ve been able to put an air in to my repertoire. I’ve been surfing safe at a lot of contests and doing them just to keep a seed. To be able to surf out there and get second, I’m just overwhelmed, I’m so happy.”

De Vries earned $12 500 (approx. R125 000) and 2 640 points which rocketed him 81 places up the ASP World Rankings to No. 41, ensuring his qualification for the seven remaining ASP Prime rated events in 2013 which are vital for any surfer with aspirations of qualifying for one of the 10 spots available on the ASP World Championship Tour (WCT) each year.

The confidence-boosting result will see de Vries taking plenty of momentum into his next major event, the $250 000 Prime rated Mr Price Pro Ballito, which will be the only ASP rated event to be held in South Africa this year and runs from July 1-7 at Willards Beach, within a couple of kilometres of de Vries’ home in Umhlanga.

Other South Africans in action in Mexico included Dale Staples (St Francis Bay) and Mikey February (Kommetjie), who finished equal 37th when they placed fourth in their respective Round of 48 heats. Shaun Joubert (Mossel Bay) placed equal 49th and David van Zyl (Glenashley) was equal 97th overall.

More on the Los Cabos Open of Surfing can be found at http://loscabosopenofsurf.com/

About ASP: The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the recognized world governing body of professional surfing and has been crowning surfing’s undisputed World Champions since 1976. The ASP sanctions and crowns World Champions for the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, ASP World Junior Tour, ASP World Longboard and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts and other media platforms. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Japan, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.